“The younger brother could surpass the older one”: Aakash Chopra backs Musheer to outshine Sarfaraz
Former Indian cricketer turned analyst Aakash Chopra had recently stated that U19 sensation Musheer Khan could give his elder brother Sarfaraz Khan a run for his money. In a sensational U19 World Cup campaign that ended in a final defeat against Australia, Musheer Khan shone with the bat. He was one of the finds of the tournament when it came to Team India.
Khan’s outstanding performance saw him score 360 runs in 7 innings at an impressive average of 60.00 with two centuries and a fifty along with a highest score of 131. His stellar performance with the bat saw him equal Shikhar Dhawan’s record of scoring two centuries in a U19 World Cup campaign. Earlier, ICC also shared a video on its social media platform showcasing striking similarities between the Khan brothers.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra predicted a bright future for Musheer and that he would outshine his elder brother.
“I really enjoyed Musheer. Once their careers wrap up eventually, the younger brother could surpass the older one. What’s great about Musheer is his impeccable sense of timing,” he said.
Chopra further commended Musheer’s ability to play unconventional shots and spin bowling very well.
“He demonstrates excellent footwork and is proficient in playing straight shots. Whenever the ball is within that range, he plays exceptionally well. The youngster handles spin skillfully and executes some impressive unconventional shots,” he added.
Chopra then urged the youngster to develop a strong backfoot game. “He needs to focus on improving one aspect of his game – his backfoot play is a bit weak. He got a reprieve in the final but got caught in the slips during the semi-final too. To succeed in the game, he must put in the effort to enhance his skills against short deliveries,” the former India opener concluded.
In 14 U19 ODIs for India, Musheer has scored 554 runs boasting an average of 61.55 and a strike rate over 91. He is also a handy left-arm spinner and has 13 wickets to his name.
In the disastrous final, Team India’s exceptional batting throughout the tournament faltered when it mattered most. The team got bowled out for 174 while chasing 254 for glory. After winning the ODI World Cup, WTC, T20 World Cup, and Women’s ODI World Cup, Australia are the reigning U19 World Cup champions.
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